登陆注册
15400400000044

第44章

"Shut up, Sid! A body does just the same in a dream as he'd do if he was awake.Here's a big Milum apple I've been saving for you, Tom, if you was ever found again -- now go 'long to school.I'm thankful to the good God and Father of us all I've got you back, that's long-suffering and merciful to them that believe on Him and keep His word, though goodness knows I'm unworthy of it, but if only the worthy ones got His blessings and had His hand to help them over the rough places, there's few enough would smile here or ever enter into His rest when the long night comes.Go 'long Sid, Mary, Tom -- take yourselves off -- you've hendered me long enough."The children left for school, and the old lady to call on Mrs.Harper and vanquish her realism with Tom's marvellous dream.Sid had better judgment than to utter the thought that was in his mind as he left the house.It was this: "Pretty thin -- as long a dream as that, without any mistakes in it!"What a hero Tom was become, now! He did not go skipping and prancing, but moved with a dignified swagger as became a pirate who felt that the public eye was on him.And indeed it was; he tried not to seem to see the looks or hear the remarks as he passed along, but they were food and drink to him.Smaller boys than himself flocked at his heels, as proud to be seen with him, and tolerated by him, as if he had been the drummer at the head of a procession or the elephant leading a menagerie into town.Boys of his own size pretended not to know he had been away at all; but they were consuming with envy, nevertheless.They would have given anything to have that swarthy suntanned skin of his, and his glittering notoriety; and Tom would not have parted with either for a circus.

At school the children made so much of him and of Joe, and delivered such eloquent admiration from their eyes, that the two heroes were not long in becoming insufferably "stuck-up." They began to tell their adventures to hungry listeners -- but they only began; it was not a thing likely to have an end, with imaginations like theirs to furnish material.And finally, when they got out their pipes and went serenely puffing around, the very summit of glory was reached.

Tom decided that he could be independent of Becky Thatcher now.Glory was sufficient.He would live for glory.Now that he was distinguished, maybe she would be wanting to "make up." Well, let her -- she should see that he could be as indifferent as some other people.Presently she arrived.Tom pretended not to see her.He moved away and joined a group of boys and girls and began to talk.Soon he observed that she was tripping gayly back and forth with flushed face and dancing eyes, pretending to be busy chasing schoolmates, and screaming with laughter when she made a capture; but he noticed that she always made her captures in his vicinity, and that she seemed to cast a conscious eye in his direction at such times, too.It gratified all the vicious vanity that was in him; and so, instead of winning him, it only "set him up" the more and made him the more diligent to avoid betraying that he knew she was about.Presently she gave over sky-larking, and moved irresolutely about, sighing once or twice and glancing furtively and wistfully toward Tom.Then she observed that now Tom was talking more particularly to Amy Lawrence than to any one else.She felt a sharp pang and grew disturbed and uneasy at once.She tried to go away, but her feet were treacherous, and carried her to the group instead.She said to a girl almost at Tom's elbow -- with sham vivacity:

"Why, Mary Austin! you bad girl, why didn't you come to Sunday-school?""I did come -- didn't you see me?"

"Why, no! Did you? Where did you sit?"

"I was in Miss Peters' class, where I always go.I saw you.""Did you? Why, it's funny I didn't see you.I wanted to tell you about the picnic.""Oh, that's jolly.Who's going to give it?""My ma's going to let me have one."

"Oh, goody; I hope she'll let me come."

"Well, she will.The picnic's for me.She'll let anybody come that I want, and I want you.""That's ever so nice.When is it going to be?""By and by.Maybe about vacation."

"Oh, won't it be fun! You going to have all the girls and boys?""Yes, every one that's friends to me -- or wants to be"; and she glanced ever so furtively at Tom, but he talked right along to Amy Lawrence about the terrible storm on the island, and how the lightning tore the great sycamore tree "all to flinders" while he was "standing within three feet of it.""Oh, may I come?" said Grace Miller.

"Yes."

"And me?" said Sally Rogers.

"Yes."

"And me, too?" said Susy Harper."And Joe?""Yes."

同类推荐
  • 百丈怀海禅师广录

    百丈怀海禅师广录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 好人歌

    好人歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金碧五相类参同契

    金碧五相类参同契

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 妇人临产门

    妇人临产门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说人仙经

    佛说人仙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 斩妖缘

    斩妖缘

    人类生而贪婪,自私,充满欲望,但是他们却拥有一种独特的感情,这种感情在神的眼里是禁忌,妖的眼里是可笑,斩妖士的眼里是荒谬。然而还是有那么多人与妖的佳话流传世间。一位背负凶器的少年,一只痴情的狐妖。一个铁面无私的斩妖士,一个柔情似水的雪女。他们之间并无瓜葛,却因为一场阴谋搅和在一起。是祸?是福?还是?
  • 地球失望60天

    地球失望60天

    世界上最隐秘的应家因为发现了地球正慢慢脱离太阳运行轨道,被联合国派杀手追杀。应家家主为了保护唯一的血脉应龙,派人把他送到了华夏国,没想到杀手穷追不舍,正当千钧一发时,是她救了他,她像无赖一样的搭着他的肩膀,笑得一脸明媚,从小到大没人敢对他不敬,但此刻他沉沦了。相处一年多,他早已离不开她,可是他还有他的使命,为了心爱的女人,为了找到地球脱离轨道的原因,他不得不离开,因为他相信离开是为了更好的重逢。
  • 药园炼香:农家养女也逍遥

    药园炼香:农家养女也逍遥

    她是二十一世纪药香世家的传人,却阴差阳错的穿到了农家小庄,一个被收养,常年带着病的体弱的农家女,不受待见,被老宅视为祸害。但是,这又能奈她如何?有病!她治!没钱!她赚!终有一天,她站在高处,傲视着,只要她想,她就能做到!
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 一本书读懂说话的艺术

    一本书读懂说话的艺术

    本书以简洁流畅的语言、通俗易懂的小故事、实际有效的例证,向读者介绍了说话的方式与方法,教会读者如何掌握说话的分寸,恰到好处地把话说到位。
  • 梦莱水晶

    梦莱水晶

    一块水晶幻石幻化人性来到村子认识了各个有情有义的大家更找到了爱情,可是,到底却没有在一起,究竟是为什么,相爱的两人又干嘛了,朋友们能知道梦莱的身世吗……
  • 我的老师是大神

    我的老师是大神

    苏茉是个普普通通的大学生,只是喜欢上了自己老师。
  • 狐狸精的星际生活录

    狐狸精的星际生活录

    古月因奶奶去世伤心过度睡了过去,醒来之后却发现自己变成了一只火红色的小狐狸,还是生活在外太空即将被星际盗走私贩卖的珍惜品种,她不想做狐狸,可是变不成人了怎么办?那就做一只狐狸精吧
  • 快穿之男神你有毒

    快穿之男神你有毒

    莫酒表示自己很无奈,走路顺手救了只狐狸……啥?狐狸居然扬言说要帮他找到真爱。原来狐狸是只牛b哄哄的系统。某酒:他就是个腊鸡系统。某男:小酒你要感谢它,要不是因为它,我们怎么能够遇到了,不要理他,继续我们的运动吧。小酒:呵呵哒!(本文耽美,不喜勿喷)
  • 造梦使者

    造梦使者

    伍子未生前做梦人生,死后与梦为伍——这一切只因人心不足。